Billiard cue shaped golf putter



y 1969 c. L. FRI-r2 3,445,112

BILLIARD CUE SHAPED GOLF PUTTER Filed Oct. 6. 1965 INVENTORI gzdflence t1 1/ 1! mi United States Patent 3,445,112 BILLIARD CUE SHAPED GOLFPUTTER Clarence L. Fritz, 1527 Elizabeth St., Bay City, Mich. 48706Filed Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,483 Int. Cl. A631) 53/00 US. Cl. 273-771 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf club used as a putter andshaped similar to a standard billiard cue. The striking face of the clubhas concentric ribs to minimize slippage. The cylindrical club head isinwardly tapered from the striking face and is joined to an outwardlytapered club shaft.

The present invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly toputters, and it involves a new concept of putting and a club structurefor carrying out the concept.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a cue-likeputter, operable by a golfer in substantially the same manner that a cueis used in playing billiards to achieve the desired object of sinkingthe golf ball in the cup.

Another object of the invention is to design a putter structure providedwith an elongated cylindrical head, which putter is used to strike theball when the golfer assumes the proper position by bending his or herknees, which position is similar to the position assumed by a baseballcatcher when playing a game of ball, and in this position the golferholds the handle of the putter in the right hand, With the left handbearing on the grass to provide proper balance, and the stem of thehandle slidably mounted in the circular support formed by the golfersforefinger and thumb in the same manner as occurs when a billiard playeruses a cue to make a shot on a billiard table, the difference being thatthe golfer assumes a position much the same as does the catcher whenplaying baseball.

A further object is to provide a very simple, practical, and easilyoperable putter for sinking the golf ball in a cup, which putter can bemade up in various lengths and weights to suit the requirements of theuser.

Still a further object is to design a cue-like putter of simple,practical, and economical design, which can be readily manufactured andassembled, and which lends itself for accurate putting for long and/orshort shots.

A further object still is to provide a cue-like putter which can bereadily handled and with which any desired number of practice shots maybe made prior to actual contact with the golf ball.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claim; it being understood thatchanges may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details ofconstruction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the putter in use by a player.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the putter.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the head end thereof' 3,445,112Patented May 20, 1969 FIG. 4 is also an end elevational view showingsmall grooves in the lower end thereof.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodimentof my invention:

The numeral 5 indicates the putter head which is preferably elongatedand formed of any desired material, the body of the head beingcylindrical in shape and is tapered as shown, the outer end terminatingin a fiat strike face 6 which face can be concentrically ribbed as at 7to provide better contact with the golf ball, minimize slippage, andplace English on a shot when desired to spin or retard the rollingaction. The inner end of the head is accurately bored as at 8, and thelower end 9 of the shaft 10 is inserted therein as shown.

A hand grip 11 is provided on the upper end of the shaft 10 and weights(not shown) can be mounted therein to provide proper balance. Theoverall length of the putter is from four to eight inches longer thanthat of a conventional golf putter club, depending on the height of thegolfer, and women golfers will normally require a shorter club.

The shaft 10 can be made of metal, glass or wood as desired, and thehead is preferably upwardly tapered to provide a smooth outer connectionat the joint between the head and the shaft.

The club is handled and the shot is made in a different manner than withthe conventional putter; it is of the end striking type and is a muchmore accurate club than are the putters presently in general use, andthe user can (when making a shot) point the head of the club so that thehead, golf ball, and the cup are in a straight line. When making a shotthere is no arc-like swinging action of the golfers body and shoulders,merely the sliding action of the putter in the left-hand support, theclub stroke being made by the right hand of the golfer. For left-handedgolfers the club will slide in the right hand and is actuated by theleft hand.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that we have designedand perfected a very simple, practical, and readily usable putter clubfor use by golfers in general.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf putter club shaped substantially similar to a standardbilliard cue comprising: an elongated, cylindrical head forming thelower end section of the club, said head being upwardly tapered with itslower free end terminating in a flat striking surface; a club shaftconnected to the upper end of said elongated head section,longitudinally aligned therewith and being downwardly tapered from theend connection of the club shaft to the elongated upper end of theputter club; and the striking face of the head having a series ofconcentric ribs to minimize slippage when it is swung into contact witha standard golf ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,260,525 7/ 1966 Ortel 273771,022,172 4/ 1912 Benhoff 273 1,813,116 7/1931 Clausen 27387.2 X2,144,846 1/1939 Kruspe. 3,220,730 11/1965 Fine 27377 RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 27370

